Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1887-04-09
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

The man who would, in this age.
advocate legislation which could iDiure
a railroad in the exercise of its just
must be lacking in both IL
and justice. Railroads are one of the
chief instruments, if not the chief
material instrument of our progress,
enlightenment and civilization. They
build up communities and develop
whole sections of country. Hence, no
man should desire to prevent their IN
crease, and very few men do.
But there is a vast difference between
wishing the railroads we'll in the ex-
ercise of their rights, and the being
willing that they shall, when they are
SO minded, infringe upon the rights of
the people.
Railroad companies are not individ-
uals with certain inalienable rights,
rights inherent and guaranteed to them
by common and constitutional law, but
they are the creatures OF the state,
subject to regulation by the state.
This fact stands admitted. Upon 1t
the Missouri constitution was formed.
Now, what is the purpose of the leg
~islation asked for by the people of this
state; for no matter what interested
persons may say, the overwhelming
public sentiment in Missouri is in favor
of additional legislation? Is it to in
fringe upon any of the rights of the
railroads? Not at all. 1t is only to
prevent the roads from infringing upon
the rights of the people. There is
nothing adverse in that, is there!
There was, no doubt, some wild legis-
ton proposed at Jefferson City, but no
one is responsible for that except the
three or four men who submitted the
bills. But the legislation prepared by
the committees was not wild, 1t was
not even tentative or speculative. IL
was carefully framed, and founded
upon the laws and experience OF other
states; laws which have stood d test
of years, in the courts and in practice
between the people and the roads.
These bills do not grind any mans
axe; they do not favor any locality
on the contrary, they are simply but
forcibly framed; first, to prevent ex'
tortion; second, to prohibit discrimi'
nation for or against anybody. 1t i;
the men with axes to grind who want
extortion aud discrimination to con-
tinue.
The assertion that anything con
tanned in the committee bills will pre-
vent railroad building is absurd. They
are almost identical with the Illinol;
law. That law has been upon thu
statute books IS years. During tina
time more miles OF railway have beer
built there than the entire mileage o
Missouri, and only last Monday three
new railroad charters we're applied fol
in that state. Iowa has a similar law m
railway building has been active there
Kansas also has such q law and yet NJ
one mas charged that state with be
ing unprogressive, nor has railroad
building been checked.
One trouble about this question ia
that many men who treat of it do 81
with 10 previous study or investiga
ton. The people know that something
lis wrong. They feel that railwa.
charges are extortionate. They se'
dividends declared upon watered stock
when they can barely sustain thei
business at all. They see invidiou
determinations made in favor Of Ger
tam men and places, and they say thu
is all wrong. They pray for a remedy
and too often the very men and news
papers which should give them en-
Encouragement and Information listen t
the specious pleas of railroad attorneys
under all sorts of CARDS, and when tn
people ask for bread give them a stone
The situation amounts to a crisis. I
may not seem so to some, but never
tneless it is a life and death struggle
, Ii the lobby, heres there and every
where, it is omnipresent, shall prevat
now, the day when legislation can b
had, without a moral and political rev
o~!ution, will be far in the future. Wha
} we need at this juncture is men
Men who their duties know,
But know their rights. and, knowing, dar
maintain.